Liquid applying apparatus for strip material



May 2, 1950 R. l. HAHN LIQUID APPLYING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTOR.

. l. HAHN LIQUID PPLYING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL May 2, 1950 Filed Jan. 2', 1947 May 2, 1950 R. l. HAHN LIQUID APPLYING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Shel#l 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1947 INVENToR. BY @a/J M Mfry/ .May 2, 1950 Y R. l. HAHN LIQUID APPLYING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL Filed Jan. 2, 1947 'lm/ENTOR. BY @d a 44,

4 Sheets-SheerI -4 Patented May 2, 195.6

LIQUID APPLYING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL Rea I. Hahn, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a. corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,734

3 Ciaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for applying liquids to material which passes in a horizontal direction. More particularly, this invention is related to the manufacture of steel tubing by continuous process in which a strip of metal passes in a horizontal direction through tubeforming, welding and annealing apparatuses and through devices which apply ux and a coating metal.

An object of the invention is to provide devices which apply liquids such as flux and a melted metal to the tubing while it moves in a horizontal direction and which provide for the circulation, without the use of pumps, of the liquids to an elevation above the level of these liquids in the vessels which contain them. In the disclosed embodiments of the invention, this object is accomplished by the use of a horizontal trough through which the material passes, a pipe partly submerged in the liquids and open at its lower end and connected at its upper end with the trough, by means located within the pipe for causing the column of liquid in the pipe to rise above the level of the liquid in the containing vessel.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

1n the drawings:

Figs. 1 to 7 illustrate apparatus for applying iiux to tubing.

Fig. l is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a trough, fragments of which are shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. '1 is a sectional view of a nozzle.

Figs. 8 to 14 illustrate apparatus for applying coating metal to tubing.

Fig. 8 is a plan view.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line II--II of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a sectional View on line I2|2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on line 13--13 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View on line 14--14 of Fig. 12.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, which show the fluxing apparatus, the flux tank 2) comprises side plates 2|, end plates '22 and a bottom plate 23 assembled with horizontal angles 24, 25, 26 and 21, T-bars 28 and 29, plates SEI and 3i and vertical angles 3'2 which provide supporting legs. The plates 2 I. 22 and 23 are lined with acid resisting bricks 33 bonded with acid resisting cement 34 and a layer 35 of acid resisting cement between the bricks and the plates. The structure supports a top plate 31 having an oblong opening 38. The vessel is kept lled with iiux to a level indicated approximately by the dot-dash line 39 and it is heated by a hot gas coil 45 immersed in the flux.

Plate 31 supports brackets 4I, two of which support a trough 42 and one supports an excess ilux remover t3. The tubing T passes toward the right through a guide tube 44, through the trough 42, the flux remover 43 and out through a guide tube 45. The trough 42 is notched at 46 to receive a short, inclined trough 41 having an end wall 4B and a side opening 49. A pipe 50 is connected to the higher end of the trough 41 and extends into the lower portion of the tank 20. The lower end of the pipe 5B receives a nozzle 5| connected by a pipe 52 with a chamber 53 supplied with compressed air which issues from the nozzle openings 54 (see Fig. 7) and causes the column of liquid in the pipe 50 to rise above the liquid level 39 and flow into the trough 41. The liquid flows down through the inclined trough 41, out through the side opening 45 and on to the tube T traveling rapidly through the trough 42. The liquid which is agitated by the rapidly moving tube is directed downwardly on the tube by bailies 55. The liquid which does not cling to the tube returns to the tank. A plate 56 suspended from the trough 42 conducts heat thereto from the liquid in the tank to raise the temperature of the trough before the circulation of the liquid begins. The excess liquid clinging to the tube T is removed by a jet of compressed air supplied through a pipe 51 and issuing through a nozzle 58 provided by the excess liquid remover 43. A plate 60 (Fig. 5) supports the compressed air container 53 and provides the cover therefor. A bracket 6I suspended from plate 6U supports the pipe 50. An opening 63 (Fig. 1) in the plate B0 provides for the admission of compressed air from a pipe not shown.

The apparatus, for applying a coating imetal, will now be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 14. The molten metal (which may be a tinlead alloy) is contained in a tank 10 formed of metal side plates 1|, end plates 12 and a bottom 3 plate 13. The level of the tin is approximately that indicated by the dotdash line 14 and kept in molten condition by circulating hot air gases through a coil 15.

The tank 'I8 rests directly upon bars it sup ported by a bottom plate il which is supported by an angle .iron structure similar to that used for supporting the flux tank. This structure supports a jacket 18 of suitable bricks with a dead air space between the jacket 'i8 and the tank '10. Tank 'l0 includes flange plates iii and 8i) fitting closely against the upper bricks '18. One of theiplates 8G supports brackets 8| (Fig. 8), two f which support a trough @E and theother an excess metal remover 33. The two vside flange plates Si@ support a plate li which supports a frame 85 carrying an electric motor Q86, (lig.l l0) which drives a shaft 8l supported by the motor and by a step bearing 3B. Shaft Si drives a propeller 8E? enclosed by the lower end portion of a pipe-Slhaving a flange ring Si attached to the iplatel Pipe Si? carries a baiile rib S2 terminating above the propeller 89. A pipe Q3 connects the upperportion of pipe 90 with the trough 32. The propeller @e is rotated by the motor in the directionof arrows 9d which causes the molten tin to be-liftedfthrough the pipe @il to a level at least that of the side pipe 93 so that molten metal will befdischarged into the trough 82. The liiting ofthe molten metal through the pipe is due not alone to the action oi the propeller t@ but also to-the presence of the rib 92 without which the propeller would be inelfective. The propeller' alone will cause a mass oi molten metal within the pipe to have a swirling motion. When the swirling ofthe molten metal is intercepted by the b aflie rib 92, it rises above the level approximately indicated by line 'iii'.

The tube T passes toward the right through a metal guide tube 9,5 occupying a notch 95a in the jacket and then through the trough S2, the excess metal remover 83 and a guide tube S. The excess metal is removed by a jet of compressed air issuing from a nozzle el supplied by a pipe 98. The metal not clinging permanently to the i tube T returns from the trough 82 and the removerl 83 to the tank. rrough 82 supports a plate Hl!) extending below the level lli for the purpose of transferring' heat from the molten metal in the tank to the trough so that its temperature will be raised above the melting point of the metal before the circulation ofthe metal begins.

From the foregoing description ef a fluxing device and metal coating device, it is apparent that each have a horizontal, material receiving trough located above the level of the liquid in thetank and supplied with liquid from the tank by causing circulation of liquid through a pipe suspended in the tank and extending to a level -slightly above the bottom of the tank. Within the'lower portion of the pipe there is located means which causes the rise oi the column of liquid within the pipe to a level such that the liquid Acan gravitate into the trough, thus` dispensing with'the use of pumps.

'Y While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms,A it is to be understood thatother iorms mightV be adopted all coming within the scope of the` claims which follow.

" what is claimed is as follows:

Y l; Apparatus -for applying liquid to horizontally lmovingn iaterialcomprising a tank for containing the liquid, a horizontal tubular trough sus- 'pended Vwithin the tank above the normal of the lvertical pipezin the tank extending below the liquid level and above the bottom oi the trough and open at its lower end, a duct connecting the vupper part -of the ypipe with the trough thereby l venting the'pipe'whereby the normal liquid level inthe pipe `is the same as the liquid level in the tank, 'means for heating the liquid in the tank, ra llieat'conducting plate attached to the trough and extending below the liquid level whereby thetrough receives heat from the liquid in advanceof the passage of heated liquid into the trough, and means located within the pipe for causing the column of liquid in the pipe to rise and'oveiiiow'through the duct into the troughs Apparatus for applyingliquid to horizontally movingmateri'al comprising af tank for containing" the liquid, a horizontal tubular trough suspended ,within the tank abovethe normal of the liqiid therein and open vat its ends to permit passage oifthe material therethrough, 'said tank having openings rthrough opposite side Walls thereof in substantial alignment with the trough ends'so that the material can pass into'the tank thioigh'one wall thereof Yand through the trough and out through the opposite wall oi thetank, a vertical pipe in the' tank extending below the Y liquid level and above the bottom of the trough and open at its lower end, a duct connectingthe upper part'of the pipe with the trough thereby venting the pipe whereby the normal liquid level in the pipe is the same as the liquid level in the tank, means for heating the liquid in the tank, aglfieatmonducting'plate attached to the trough and extending below the liquid level whereby the trough 'receives heat from the liquid in advance ofthe passage of heated liquid into thetrough, meanslocated `within the pipe i'or causing the column of liquid in thel pipe to rise and overiiow thr y .prisi'ngA an air Vnozzle within thev lower'por-` tionoi the pipe and connected with a compressed arianne.'

3. "Apparatus for applying liquid to horizontally moving material comprising a tank for containingr the'liq'uid, ahori'zontal tubular trough suspended within the tank above the normal ofthe liquid therein and open at its ends to permit passage i the material therethrough, 'said tank havingopenings through opposite side V'walls thereof in substantial alignment with the trough endsso that the material can pass into the tank through one wall' thereofV and through the trough and out through the opposite wall of thetank, a vertical pipein thetank extending below the liquidilevel andl above'the bottom of the trough and'openat its lower end, a duct connecting theupper/partfof the pipe with the trough thereby venting the pipe whereby' the normal liquid level in the pipe is the Isame as Vthe liquid level inthe tank, means "for heating'the liquid in the tank, a heat conducting plate attached to the trough and extending lielow the liquid level whereby the trough receives heat from the liquid in advance of the passage of heated liquid into the trough, means located `within the 'pipe for causing the column of-"liqiiid in the pipe toA rise and overflow through""the duct into the trough, said means comprising Ia* ough the ductl'intovthe trough, said meansn propeller.

REA I. HAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Stoddard et al June 15, 1915 Buckminster Feb. 28, 1922 Bundy NOV. 2, 1926 Johnson July 321, 1934 Herman July 18, 1939 Mann Aug. 6, 1946 

